Cameron Green is fit for Newlands, and South Africa have to replace Nortje for the series decider
Green is available as a batter for the third Test in Cape Town, Anrich Nortje is out with a groin injury, and Australia still have to choose between Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland.
Oct 25, 2026
Cameron Green says he is “all good to go” for the third Test at Newlands, and Australia need someone to be. The series is level at 1-1 going into Tuesday’s decider in Cape Town, and the tourists are coming off a defeat by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha that started with 99 all out.
South Africa have a selection problem of their own. Anrich Nortje has a groin injury and will miss the match.
Green back, but not with the ball
Green has not played since he strained an abdominal muscle in the final ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom on 30 September. He bowled in training at Newlands on Saturday but will not bowl in the Test, so if he plays it will be as a batter only.
“I’m all good to go,” he said. “Pretty surprised with how quick it’s actually healed or how functional I feel only a few weeks after.”
That means at least one change, and the batting order could move around it. Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster are all under pressure for their places. If Green comes in for Maddinson, Matt Renshaw, who made 272 runs in the first Test in Durban, would probably go back to opening and Green could bat at No. 5.
Green would prefer No. 4 or 5 but said the call belongs to the selectors. “I think I’m well suited at four and five, but obviously we’ve had some pretty incredible cricketers bat in those positions,” he said. “So I’m very happy to move up and down the order depending on what the team wants.”
The batting is the real worry
Green’s return does not fix Australia’s bigger problem. In their last seven innings against Bangladesh and South Africa, no more than one Australian has passed fifty in the same innings. The 99 at St George’s Park was their lowest first-innings total since South Africa bowled them out for 85 in Hobart in 2016.
Travis Head, who made 121 in the follow-on, put it plainly. “We haven’t been able to get that collective batting day that we would desire as a team,” he said. He singled out Scott Boland’s 40 off 166 balls from No. 6 in that second innings as the kind of support innings Australia have been missing.
Lyon or Boland?
The bowling question is just as live. Nathan Lyon was left out in Gqeberha for an all-pace attack, and Boland took 5 for 81 in his place. Pat Cummins said Lyon’s name will be “front and centre” again when Australia pick their side.
The numbers lean towards Boland. According to ESPNcricinfo, spinners have averaged 54.50 in Tests at Newlands since 2020, and seamers 24.06. Lyon has taken five wickets at 43.80 in three Tests at the ground, all of them in 2018. With Green not bowling, picking Lyon would also leave Australia with three pace options unless Webster keeps his place.
Steve Smith, who had a stiff neck through the second Test and dropped down the order in the follow-on, is expected to be fine.
Who replaces Nortje?
Nortje left the field during his fourth over on the fourth morning in Gqeberha and did not come back. Durban had been his first Test in more than three and a half years, and he bowled 40 overs there for four wickets.
South Africa have not named a replacement. Gerald Coetzee, who has not played a Test in nearly two years, allrounder Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson, a Cape Town local, have all been with the squad since the first Test. Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy is the option if they want a slower bowler. The batting line-up that made 425 for 9 in Gqeberha is expected to stay the same.
History at the ground is mixed for Australia. They have won 10 of their 14 Tests at Newlands, but lost three of the last four. Play starts at 10:30am local time on Tuesday, which is 2pm IST, and I think the side that bats better in the first innings takes the series, the same as in the first two Tests.